Open Society Foundation Releases 'No Government Should Get to Decide This'

James NicholsThe Huffington Post

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Do you know the complicated cultural, legal and economic obstacles trans people face everyday as a result of regulation through government documentation?

In this compelling short educational film from the Open Society Foundation, the everyday lived experiences and struggles of trans people are brought to light. The video specifically focuses on the way transgender people are regulated and policed based on the gender they are assigned at birth, which is then enshrined in legal documentation and affects everything from airport security to getting a loan at the bank.

“All governments should recognize trans people for who they are,” David Scamell, program officer with the Open Society Foundations, said in a statement. “Too many countries force trans people to jump through demoralizing, unnecessary, or even impossible hoops to legally change their gender.”

Check out the video above to learn a bit more about the everyday lived experiences of the transgender community.

Open Society Foundation Releases 'No Government Should Get to Decide This'

15 Things To Know About Being Transgender By Nicholas M. Teich

15 Things To Know About Being Transgender By Nicholas M. Teich

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1. Defining Transgenderism

The root of the word "transgender" comes from the Latin word "trans," meaning "across." A trans-Atlantic flight goes across the Atlantic Ocean; a transnational issue affects people all across the country; and so on. "Transgender" literally means "across gender." "Transgender" is defined today as an umbrella term with many different identities existing under it.
<em>Image via ccharmon on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9439733@N02/4922468556/" target="_hplink">Flickr.com</a></em>